Mexico Trip Itineraries

My Mexico City Guide

Destination(s): Mexico City

Anthropology Museum (Museo de Antropologia)

If you have time for only one museum during your stay in Mexico City, this is the one. It was inaugurated in 1964 and it contains two dozen individual areas each one dedicated to a particular culture that inhabited Mexico for any length of time before the arrival of the Spaniards.

The largest exhibit areas are dedicated to the Aztecs, Mayas, Toltecas and Olmecas and they all contain original artifacts and works of art that have been found during the ongoing excavations in the hundreds of live archaeological sites. Before you enter you will see a huge statue of Tlaloc, the God of rain and once inside and holding center stage the commonly known Calendar of the Sun.

There are guided tours and also pre-recorded guides that you can rent for a nominal fee. There is a restaurant and a coffee shop as well as a gift shop with plenty of books and souvenirs. It is practically impossible to see all the exhibits in one day so choose the ones that interest you the most and spend quality time there.read more about Anthropology Museum (Museo de Antropologia)

Castillo de Chapultepec

Templo Mayor

In Aztec times this place was considered the center of the universe and it was at this temple that human sacrifices, a traditional ball game and many religious ceremonies took place. Dating from around 1375 the temple went through many reconstructions until in 1520 the Spaniards decided to destroy it and build on top of it. A reconstruction in the early 1980s revealed what was left of an impressive archeological site. Nowadays the Templo Mayor has a large and impressive museum focusing on the culture and traditions of Mexico City's early inhabitants. It houses sacrificial stones, statuettes and sacred artifacts. The museum itself is expansive and might take some time to visit in its entirety, but it is definitely worth the visit.
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Paseos Culturales del Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia

Paseo por el Centro Histórico

Parque Nacional Desierto de los Leones

Camino al Desierto de los Leones

Cuajimalpa

tel:+52 55 533 4700 (Información Turisticos)

Mexico City, 03310

Chapultepec Park

Chapultepec Park

Mexico City, 11100

One of the largest city parks in the world, Chapultepec has over a dozen museums, cultural centers and things to see and do. Spend the day picnicing and canoeing, or take the kids to the zoo, children's museum, or minature train.
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Xochimilco

Avenida México Xochimilco

(Xochimilco)

tel:+52 5 5525 9380 (Información Turisticos)

Mexico City, 16500

400 Kilometers of water canals make of Xochimilco Mexico's version of Venice. The best way to see this wonder of the ancient world is to arrive at the Nativitas boarding area and jump onto a "trajinera" – large wooden boats beautifully decorated with colorful paintings and flower arrangements. The boat trip (which can last one to five hours depending on what you choose) takes you past floating gardens, a vast array of bird life and "tinampas" which were islets made by the Aztecs by compacting mud and straw and building them around roots of aquatic trees. Weekends are very hectic here with a variety of floating mariachi bands, corn sales people, and partiers. For a more relaxed time visit on a weekday.
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Plaza San Angel

Avenida Paseo del Pedregal

Colonia Jardines del Pedregal

tel:+52 55 5568 1360

Mexico City, 01900

One of the most beautiful and oldest neighborhoods of Mexico City, the San Angel Plaza – or downtown – is an eclectic mix of cobblestone streets, colonial mansions and delightful traditional restaurants. Saturdays sees the Bazaar open its doors with truly unique and rather expensive Mexican arts and crafts, and Sundays are a great day to visit this sleepy, town-like neighborhood in the middle of the Mexico City hustle and bustle.
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Bosque de Chapultepec

The Chapultepec forest was the vacationing estate for the Aztec nobility and hence is dotted with trees, brooks, two large lakes where visitors can row, ruins, a theatre for children, a music garden, majestic marble water fountains, a lakeside art gallery, Latin America's largest zoo, and a sumptuous castle overlooking this leisure paradise. It is a perfect place to get lost hiking, take a picnic, or rent a bike. Chapultepec is Mexico City's favorite Sunday spot so if you wish to avoid the crowds visit it from 9am-5pm Tuesday-Saturday.
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Museo Antiguo Palacio del Arzobispado

Moneda, 4

Colonia Centro

tel:+52 5 228 1241

Mexico City, 06010

Teotihuacan Pyramids (Pirámides de Teotihuacan)

Carretera México Teotihuacan Km. 46

Zona Arqueológica de Teotihuacan

tel:+55 52 50 0123 (Información Turística)

San Juan Teotihuacan, 03010

Mexico is rich in culture and many different groups inhabited the country before the arrival of the Spaniards. Aztecs, Mayas, Otomis, Zapotecos, etc. But there is a great mystery surrounding Teotihuacan, there are theories about who built this city and why it was abandoned buy no one knows for sure.

Teotihuacan is an hour and a half drive north of Mexico City and I recommend you devote a full day to visiting. Leave early in the morning in order to avoid traffic and spend as much time as you can exploring this magnificent @font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } archaeological site.

There are two main pyramids, the Sun and the Moon, the first one is larger and taller and you can climb both of them. The sun is a bit difficult but once you get to the top you will have an incredibly beautiful view of the valley.

You can also walk around what was once the main avenue called Calzada de los Muertos (Avenue of the Dead) and see many small buildings and new discoveries from on-going excavations. You will be approached by locals selling figurines that resemble originals that are housed in the Anthropology museum, they make great souvenirs. There are many places to stop and eat, nothing fancy, mostly food stands on the side of the road that offer tacos, quesadillas, beer and soft drinks.